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IOWA FALLS, Iowa — A study released by Purdue University says Iowa had more grain bin accidents than anywhere else in the country last year.

It is a nightmare scenario, but there are lifesaving tools that can be used to rescue people.

The Iowa Falls Fire Department knows firsthand the severity of becoming trapped in a grain bin and the importance of some tools in these situations. Aarick Baker became trapped on a farm south of Iowa Falls in June 2013.

“We were pretty fortunate that day. Everybody was,” said fire Cpt. Jason Barrick.

Barrick was later given an award of valor for his actions that day.

He said using grain bin rescue tubes made saving Baker’s life possible.

“That was the only way that we could get to him the fastest,” Barrick said. “Just to find him, and get him a little bit of water and other stuff that he needed. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to dig out far enough with the corn all coming back into you.”

Another valuable tool is a rescue auger, which can work in conjunction with rescue tubes.

Carol Miller, former president of the Polk County Farm Bureau, has committed herself to raising awareness about the importance of these rescue tools.

“A year or so ago, we decided we needed to help the fire departments so that they can help rescue us,” she said.

Miller has been leading fundraising efforts to buy the lifesaving equipment to be used by area fire departments.

“I think we purchased seven grain rescue tubes and the augers that go down inside the tube and a drill. It’s about a battery drill that would draw out a little over a bushel per minute,” Miller said.

But Miller says it’s not just equipment that can save lives.

“A lot of times people were reaching up and that’s how they find a lot of them. But if you can bring down, crouch down and make an air pocket for yourself, then you could probably survive quite a few minutes,” she said.

According to the study, entrapments in grain bins or other confined spaces on farms were reported in 13 states last year, with the most reported in the Midwest. Iowa had seven incidents, followed by Nebraska with four.

But the number of incidents could be even higher as many cases go unreported. The study reports there has been reluctance on the part of some victims and employers to report nonfatal incidents since doing so could result in work delays or higher insurance costs.